contrive

What does “contrive” mean?

adjective.to create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice.

SAT Usage

This term often appears in contexts involving innovation, problem-solving, or complex planning, emphasizing the cleverness and ingenuity behind creating a solution or situation. It suggests a level of skillful manipulation or strategic thinking that goes beyond mere creation, distinguishing it from simpler terms like "make" or "produce," which do not imply the same level of artifice or intentionality.

Common Confusions

Contrive implies skillfully creating or inventing something through clever planning, while devise usually suggests simply coming up with a plan or idea without the same emphasis on artifice or manipulation.

Example Sentences

• She contrived an elaborate plan to surprise the whole group.

• They managed to contrive a clever hiding spot for the mural before the reveal.

Word Parts: How to Remember “contrive”

Break “contrive” into its parts: co- (together, with). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: co- together, with (Latin)